Hinge-axis articulator



March z o, 1945. T. A. BODiNE 2,371,795

' l HINGE-AXIS ARTICULATOR Filed Oct.V 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Y TTOEN EY.

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 y lUNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,371,795 f d HINGE-Axis an'rIcULA'roR 'Theodore A. Bodine, Summit County. Ohio Application October 2 8, 1942, Serial No. 463,605'l *I 19 Claims. '(01-32-32) This invention relates to ahinge-axis articulator. It can be used in the construction of artiv .particular curve it is adapted to denne vany curve' that the teeth may make in a strained relation.

.In this latter case it maybe adjusted to move only within the limits permitted by the condylar displacement between the position when there is a pull on the capsular ligament as in chewing aA hard bolus of food between the back teeth and the position when there is a displacement of the meniscus as when chewing on a hardbolus of food'between the front teeth.

- In the preferred design of this instrument two incisal guidances are provided for the lateral movement of the teeth, and the angle of their movement may be reproduced to kdetermine the jcusp height and incisive bite ofthe teeth.

vk"The instrument is preferably provided :with Bennett controls and a vscale to determine facial widths. Other scales may be providedy as 'for examplathose shown in the drawings. The nature and range of the movement of the various parts of the instrument and its adaptability for various uses will be more'vfully explained in what follows.

The invention will be f further described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a plan view of the instrument; Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation; l Fig.r 4 is a section on the line lf-4.0i Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of 'a locking mechanism described below; y

.Fig 6 shows the relation between different elements of the axis supportand is largely a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. l; and l Fig` 'l is a detail with part of one of the uprights 3i broken away and is largely a section on the line '1 -'l of Fig. l. The condylar axis l supports one rend of the bracket 2 which is prowded with a finger lift `3 for raising and lowering its front end. `This bracket is preferablyflanged at 4 and 5 to accommodate two incisal guidance pins 6 and 1 which move across ythe face of the -incisal guidance .plates 8 and 9. These incisal guidance plates are'supported in the cradles lby the setscrews Zonta] plane on the post I2.

The cradle is adapted to swivel in a horirPhe screw I3 locks the post (not shown) on which the cradle l0 swivels, so as to prevent rotation of the cradle. The incisal guidance plates swivel on lthe Set screws l l which are provided with knurled heads so that they may be tightened to hold these plates in any plane. The plane 0i each inoisal guidance Yplate may be adjusted independently of the other.

The condylar axis iis supported'by the two pistons 20 which are mounted to slide in the cradles 2l. The set screws y22 are provided to lock each piston in any desired position regardless of the position of the other. The knurled nuts 23 and 24 may be set in any position to limit' the sliding movement of the piston -to any desired range. The nuts 23 limit the extent of the movement produce'd by a pull on the capsular liagments caused by chewing on a hard'bolus of food between the back teeth. The nuts 24 may be placed to control the displacement yof the menisci caused by pressure when biting on ahard bolus of food between the front teeth.' The cradle 2l is supported by the plate 25 and this is pivoted to the block 26 by means of a pivot 21 which passes through the block 26 directly in line with thepiston 2li. The piston 2D therefore may be ro-tated about the pivott'l and may be moved longitudinally.

A projection on the front of the block 26 fits snugly between the uprights 3l and is held in place by the locking screw 32. By tightening -this screw the position of the block 26 can be maintained at any desired distance from the base of the uprights 3l. One end of the threaded shaft 33 Vis embedded in the block 26 and the vertical movement of the .block is controlled by turning the knurled nut 34. The projection 35 on the under side of the nut 3s turns in the yoke 36 which is supported vby the, uprights 3|. The vguide plate 31 comprises a projection whichl fits snugly between the uprights 3l and this serves to steady the block 26 and provide for unvarying vertical movement thereof.

The block 26 is rotatably mounted on the graduatedv annular ring lill. In the preferred form of the instrument shown in the drawings this is accomplished bysupporting the uprights 3| on the block t2. The projection d3 on this block 42 fits snugly within theannular ring Ml. It is held in place by the plate 44 which is bolted to the projection 43. ing the projection the annular ring may 43 in any desired positionvin Any suitable means for locky be provided. In the irlstrument shown in the drawings this is accomplished by a bolt with a knurled head 46 which is threaded into a small plate 41 which is cut4 out of the plate 44. By tightening the knurled head the small plate 41 is drawn to the block 42 and the annular ring is squeezed between the plate 44 and the block 42 and the block 42 is thus held against rotation around the annular ring. On loosening the bolt 46 the block 26 may be rotated around the annular ring 40 until it assumes any desired position.

When the set screw 22 is loosened the piston 2i!) is free to slide in the cradle. The block 26 which carries the pivot 21 may be rotated around the annular ring 40 and set at any position by tightening the set screw 46. With this adjustment the condylar axis may be made to describe a curve of any desired radius, the center of which may be located in any position around the condylar axis. By adjusting the nuts 23 and 24 and loosening the set screw 22 the longitudinal movement of the piston 2l). may be limited within any desiredl range. With this adjustment the condylar axis may be moved through any curve the jaws may makev in any strained relation.

The movement of each end of the axis is independent of the movement of the other end and may be individually controlled regardless of the adjustment.

Because the movements of each end `of the condylar axis are independent of the movements of theother end itis desirable .to have two incisal guidance pins as shown in they drawingsand incisal guidance plates which are individually adiustable, all as shown in the drawings.

When setting up the instrument the mounting ringsare fastened in place by the; mounting plate screws 50. Then with records taken from the mouth the instrument is set with the teeth in the unstrained relation bytightening the set screw 22 after the block 25 has been rotated to the proper position. and locked by tightening the set screw 4G. 'Tightening the set screw 22 locks the piston 2o with the condylar Aaxis at the proper distance from the pivot 21. The incisal guidance pins are then locked at the proper length. The upper end of each incisal guidance pin is threaded at 52 into a head 53 of the supporting bracket. lts length is determined ley-threading it in or out of the bracket head. After the length is properly adjustedthe pin is locked by tightening the locking screw 5|.

The annular rings 40 are supported by the plates 60 which slide on the rail 6I and may be locked in any position by the set screws 62. The rail 6| preferably carries a scale as in Fig. 3 so that the facial width determined by the position of the plates 60 may be measured and recorded.

The Bennett controls 10 are mounted on the pins 1| and are adapted to swivel on the top of the posts 12-which support the rail 6|. They may be set in any position by tightening the knurled nut 13. A slit 14 is provided in the base of each Bennett control through which the scale 15 which is permanently xed to the post 12 is visible. The angle. of lateral movement of the jaw may be determined by rotating the Bennett control so that the end of the condylar axis I moves against the face 1E of the raised sector 11. This position may be fixed by tightening the nut 13 andthe angle of any position may be read directly on the scale- 15.

The block 42 land the plate. 44 are cut away at 19 to permit horizontal retrusion of the condylar to which at least one incisal guidance pin is af- 1 fixed, a support rotatable in a vertical plane, a piston which supports the condylar axis and is adapted to move longitudinally with respect to itself which piston is pivotally supported by said support and means for locking said piston in any position.

3. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis which hingedly supports a bracket to which at least one incisal guidance pin is af iixed, a support rotatable in a vertical plane, a piston which supports the condylar axis and is adapted to move longitudinally with respect to itself which piston is pivotally supported by said support and means for limiting the radial movement 0f said piston.

4. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis which hingedly supports a bracket to which at least one incisal guidance pin is ai fixed, a support rotatable in a vertical plane, a piston which supports the condylar axis and is adapted to move longitudinally with respect to itself which piston is pivotally supported by said support, means for limiting the radial movement of said piston and means for locking the piston in any position. y

5. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis which hingedly supports a bracket to` which at least one incisal guidance pin is aifixed, a support rotatable in a vertical plane, a piston whichsupports the condylar axis and is adaptedA vto move longitudinally with respect to itself which piston is pivotally supported by said support and means for locking the support in any position.

6. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis which hingedly supports a bracket to which at least one incisal guidance pin is afiixed,A a support rotatable in a vertical plane, a piston which supports the condylar axis and is adapted to move longitudinally with respect to itself which piston is pivotally supported by said support, means for locking the support in any position and means for locking the piston in any position.

'7. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis which hingedly supports a bracket to which' at least one incisal guidance pin is afiixed, a support rotatable in a vertical plane, a piston which suppo-rts the condylar axis and is adapted to move longitudinally with respect vto *itself which piston is pivotally supported'by said support, means for locking the support in any position and means for limiting the radial movement of the piston. l

8. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis which hingedly supports a bracket to. which at least one incisal guidance pin is afxed. a support rotatable in a vertical plane, a piston which supports the condylar axis and is adapted to move longitudinally with respect to itself which piston is pivotally supported by said distance to one another and are adapted to moveA support, .means for locking the support in any position, means for limiting the radial movement of the piston and means forlocking the piston in any position.

9. -A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis which hingedly supports a bracket to which at least one incisal guidance' is aflixed,

two ypistons which separately support the condylar axis and are adapted to movelongitudinally with respect to themselves, means for separately pivotally supportingeach piston at a position on the arc of a circle with an adjustable radius and means for varying -the distance between said pistons.

10. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis which hingedly supports a bracket to which at least one incisal guidance is affixed, two pistons which separately support the condylar axis and are adapted to move radially with respect thereto, means for separately vpivotally supporting each piston at a position on the arc of a, circle with an adjustable radius, means for varying the distance between said pistons, means for independently limiting the radialmovement of each piston and means for independently locking each piston in any position.

l1. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis supported by a piston which, in turn, is supported by a pivot adapted to be located at any desired distance from the condylar axis, the pivot being adapted to be movedr to any desired position around the condylar axis.

12. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis supported toward each end by a piston which is pivotally supported,each end of the pivots being adapted to be moved independently to any desired position around thecondylar axis, each end of the condylar axis being free to move independently of the other.

13. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis the two ends of which are free to y condylar axis which limiting the vradial longitudinally with respectl to. themselves, independent means rotatably mounted for pivotally supporting each piston, means for separately movement' of each piston and means for independently locking each piston in any position.

16. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis the move independently of one another, two incisal guidance pins each substantially parallel to the other and substantially perpendicular to an axis y parallel to the condylar axis and oiset therefrom, said pins being supported from the axis to trace the different movements of the two ends of the axis, and an incisal guidance for each of said incisal guidance pins, each incisal guidance being adapted to be rotated about a vertical axis and also about a horizontal axis.

' 17. A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a hingedly supports a bracket to which` two substantially parallel incisal guidance pins are independently slidably and lockably laffixed substantially perpendicular to the condylaraxis, twowannular rings encircling the vcondylar axis spaced an adjustable distance fromone another and having substantially the same axis, a support lockably connected with move independently of ,oneanothen two incisal guidance pins each substantially parallel to one another and substantially lperpendicular to an axis parallel to the condylar axis and offset y therefrom, said pins being hingedly supported from the axis to trace the differentmovements of the two ends of the axis.

14; A hinge-axis articulator which comprises a condylar axis, two incisal guidance pins each substantially parallel to one another and sub-k stantially perpendicular to the condylar axis and hingedly supported thereby, two pistons which separately support the condylar 'axis and are adapted to move longitudinally with respect to mounted for pivotally supporting each piston.

15. A hinge-axis 'articulator which comprises a condylar axis, two incisal guidance pins each substantially parallel -to one another and substantially perpendicular to the condylar axis and hingedly supported thereby, two pistons which separately support the condylar axis at a variable themselves, and independent means rotatably' each, each of which supports is of adjustable length and is adapted to be independently rotated about the axis of its annular ring and comprises a horizontal pivot mounting, two pistons veach of which slidably supports the condylar axis and is perpendicular thereto and is pivotally affixed to one of said horizontal pivot mountings'` so as to be longitudinally movable with respect to itself, means for separately limiting the longitudinal movement of each piston and separate means for locking each piston toprovide any desired distance betweeny the condylar axis and the pivot l mounting of that piston.

18. A hinge-axis articulator with a condylar axis supported within annular rings at its respective ends, a pivot which is supported at a variable distance from the center of each ring and rotatable thereabout, means for locking the pivot at any distance from the center of the ring inany one of many directions therefrom, a piston which supports the axis pivoted on reach pivot, the axis being slidable lengthwise with respect tothe piston, means for Varying the limits of I the stroke of the piston and means for locking it at any position in its stroke. f

19. A hinge-axis articulator provided with a condylar axis, two annular rings located in substantially parallel planes which encircle the axis near opposite ends thereof, a pivot mounted on each ring so that it is rotatable about the center of its ring and adapted to be moved a variable distance from the center of its ring, and a piston l mounted on each pivot, the condylar axis being supported near each end by one of said pistons.

- THEODORE A. BODINE.

two ends ofwhich are free to CERTIFICATE 0E coEREcT1oN.

Patent No. 2,571,795. March 2o, 19u15.

TEEoDoRE A. BOBINE;

ror appears in the print d specification I It is hereby certified that er of the `above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page l, secpage 5, first colond column, line 19, for "liagments" read ligaments-- umn, line 19,y -fclaim lO, for "radially" read "longitudinally-q line 20,

r "thereto read --to themselves-n; line 55, claim 12,*strike same claim, fo 'out' end"; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe Aread with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 19th day of June, A. D. 1914.5.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

